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About Nepal
| Geography |
Nepal |
| Location: |
Southern Asia, between China and India |
| Geographic coordinates: |
28 00 N, 84 00 E |
| Map references: |
Asia |
| Area: |
total: 140,800 sq km
land: 136,800 sq km
water: 4,000 sq km |
| Area - comparative: |
slightly larger than Arkansas |
| Land boundaries: |
total: 2,926 km
border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km |
| Coastline: |
0 km (landlocked) |
| Climate: |
varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south |
| Terrain: |
Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north |
| Natural resources: |
quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore |
| Land use: |
arable land: 21.68%
permanent crops: 0.64%
other: 77.68% (2001) |
| Irrigated land: |
11,350 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Natural hazards: |
severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons |
| Environment - current issues: |
deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions |
| Environment : |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation |
| Geography - note: |
landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest - the world's tallest - on the border with China |
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| People |
Nepal |
| Population: |
27,676,547 (July 2005 est.) |
| Age structure: |
0-14 years: 39% (male 5,575,157/female 5,221,794) 15-64 years: 57.3% (male 8,137,410/female 7,720,691) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 499,039/female 522,456) (2005 est.) |
| Median age: |
total: 20.07 years
male: 19.91 years
female: 20.24 years (2005 est.) |
| Population growth rate: |
2.2% (2005 est.) |
| Birth rate: |
31.45 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
| Death rate: |
9.47 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
| Net migration rate: |
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
| Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2005 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: |
total: 66.98 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 65.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 68.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 59.8 years
male: 60.09 years
female: 59.5 years (2005 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: |
4.19 children born/woman (2005 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun: Nepalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Nepalese |
| Religions: |
Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
note: only official Hindu state in the world |
| Languages: |
Nepali 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5% (2001 census)
note: many in government and business also speak English |
| Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 45.2%
male: 62.7%
female: 27.6% (2003 est.) |
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